Bhubaneswar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the benefits of social welfare schemes launched by the State government never reached the people in the poverty stricken KBK region.
Accusing the Odisha government of misappropriating funds meant for the development of tribal people, BJP’s Kuchinda MLA Rabi Narayan Naik, who led an eight-member party fact finding delegation that took stock of ground realities in the wake of a man in Kalahandi district having to carry the body of his dead wife on his shoulders for 10 km, held it squarely responsible for the appalling condition of the health delivery system in these parts.
“The fact finding team observed that not a single social welfare scheme announced by the State government has reached the people. How is the State government claiming credit for successfully implementing these projects?” asked Naik addressing a press meet here today.
He alleged the state government is responsible for the pathetic condition of hospitals in this backward region.
“Our fact-finding team observed that in Nagrudihi panchayat PHC of the district, none of the two doctors appointed by the State govt was present. Only announcement of schemes will not do. The government needs to review these schemes periodically to make sure that they are being implemented effectively,” he rued.
The ruling BJD predictably dismissed the allegations saying total development of a backward area takes a long time.
“If they (BJP) really feel that the region should be developed, they must ask the Centre for special packages for KBK region. Everybody knows that Odisha is a poor state. But the Centre must come forward to help the State government for developing the region. Instead of understanding the ground realities, the BJP is trying to politicise the issue,” BJD spokesperson Dibya Shankar Mishra said.